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Final Senate vote endorses SB 10-191
Written by Todd Engdahl on May 12th, 2010. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org
Now that the “Business of Education” has won, our children will lose. Badly needed classroom resources (money) will go to the training of administrators and the Educational businesses that stand to make millions from taxpayers. Once again, the private sector will drain the public coffers for personal gain, thanks to Michael Johnston, who will leave for far greater political rewards. DINOs, you now dominate the Colorado Democratic Party. I will switch my party affiliation and become an Independent. Dems, good luck next fall, you have double-crossed some of your most devoted supporters.
When the Democrats regained control of the legislature and, then, the governor’s office, many educators, especially classroom teachers, were confident that there would be a new respect and compassion for education, educators, student and parents. Instead of respect and compassion, it’s been primarily disrespect and disdain for education and especially for classroom teachers. SB 191 is just the latest example of that attitude. Tying teacher evaluation to student achievement is to continue focusing upon the teacher and ignoring the role of the student. There is no provision in SB 191 for student or parent accountability. Nor, is there any substantive evidence that such legislation is valid. Michael Johnston referred to research that he stated validated his approach. Has anyone seen any of that research? How about those Democrats (Conservadems) who rejected the counsel of Mike Merrifield, Judy Solano and other classroom teachers and instead followed the lead of the inexperienced Johnston? They may soon ask, “What was I thinking?” Well, as stated, SB 191 is just the latest example of the inability of Democrats to deliver on educational issues. Save for the diligent work of Andrew Romanoff who managed to secure legislation to allocate funds for the maintenance of buildings in need of immediate repair, most attention has been devoted to enabling charter schools at the expense of those students in regular schools. In other words, ignoring the common good in order to accomodate a few.
Certainly, this legislation has some redeeming values. For one thing, it’s initiated discussion on a vital topic. Unfortunately, it’s been primarily a monologue – Johnston and his supporters lecturing to opponents that they’re wrong and against kids. This entire process has been disrespectful to teachers. Were I still teaching (now retired), I would be seeking alternatives to being aligned with a particular political party. Both Democrats and Republicans have demonstrated the tendency to scapegoat rather than identifying problems, studying them and proposing studied solutions. Instead, what is proposed is SB 191 that incorrectly identifies teachers as the principal element in student achievement. So, Democrats may pay a high political price in November and beyond for neglecting such a large faction of their political base. To be fair, most Democratic legislators did not desert the common good, but they failed to forcefully defend those who had the courage and wisdom to speak truth to power.
I have always thought that if there was going to be significant positive change in public education it would be the democrats who could make it happen. Now some brave democrats have done that. We now have a chance to raise the badly tarnished reputation of our own professional standards. I hope that educators will step up to the plate and instead of screaming “no, it wasn’t me,” contribute constructively to the conversation about what some professional standards could and should look like.
The premise that the argument above resides on, and I quote, “what is proposed is SB 191 that incorrectly identifies teachers as the principal element in student achievement.” is wrong and misguided.
In fact we do have good evidence that teachers and schools can indeed be the principal element in a child’s education. I want to be one of those teachers in one of those schools. It is sad for me to see the teachers pointing at parents, administration, and even the students to lay blame as some of the nay saying democrats attempted to do on the floor yesterday (shame on you Max Taylor.)
We have the skills, the tools, and the obligation to ensure that our students learn as most teachers prove every day. And I, for one, believe that there are reliable ways to measure and demonstrate student learning without selling out to business interests.
Let’s hope that teachers have it in them to provide strong leadership in the implementation of this law. We’re the ones who have the best chance of getting it right.
As a retired principal I would have had no problem with either my effectiveness or that of my staff being measured by how much academic growth we achieved with students. The problem lies with the measure. Students have to have a dog in this hunt and under our current testing system, they don’t. I have watched kids many times over the years give far less than their best effort on CSAP because they know it doesn’t count for anything.
Amen, B.J.
I find it highly unfortunate that the legislature can have so many powerful concepts and coordinate these so poorly. First and foremost, CSAP will need to be replaced with an assessment more directly accountable to students; unfortunately, the bill to remove CSAP that was introduced and passed by the Senate and house during this session died on its return route.
Second, CAP4K’s replacement of Cornell units with knowledge requirements will require measures of student learning that will determine whether students advance and ultimately graduate; unfortunately, this session the legislature delayed its implementation until 2012-2013.
Meanwhile, SB 191 will be applied to faculty throughout the state in August. This could be magnificent reform if it were complete enough to convince the educational community of its effectiveness. As it stands currently, I struggle to accept that my colleagues will not simply find ways to cheat a broken system that may not be fixed until these habits become the norm.
B.J.Pell says:
May 14, 2010 at 9:28 pm
The problem lies with the measure. Students have to have a dog in this hunt and under our current testing system, they don’t. I have watched kids many times over the years give far less than their best effort on CSAP because they know it doesn’t count for anything.
So in other words, it doesn’t matter how many years a teacher devoted her life to, she will be judged and terminated with no pension if a student who couldn’t care less fails, no matter how much effort the teacher put into trying to teach. It isn’t fair. The parents of these lazy students should be working with the teachers and the school boards and their kids to assure they pass, and if the student fails, the parents need to enforce summer school and other studies. Colorado teachers are the victim here, not the students. Too much “charity” is given to “minorities” who chose to ride on the financial coat-tails of the system.
Shame on you for passing this bill.
The same well intentioned fools who supported securepera.org re SB 10-001 were taken for a ride by the elite democrat controlled general assembly this year @ SB 10-191. Is that payback ?